In the Gorodok district, obsolete ammunition is being converted into scrap metal and industrial explosives

The aviation ordnance disposal center, part of the State Scientific and Production Association of Powder Metallurgy, is located near the district center on the territory of an active military unit. There are numerous video cameras around, rows of barbed wire along the perimeter, control strips, a moat with water, and a checkpoint. Not only outsiders but also company employees undergo thorough checks: carrying mobile phones, matches, and lighters is prohibited, as is wearing synthetic clothing that contributes to the buildup of electrostatic charge, and, naturally, alcohol consumption. All employees reporting for duty are tested for intoxication using the "Alcotex" device.

— Drivers must have no more than 0.3 permille in their exhaled air, and for us, 0.1 is a serious violation that leads to removal from work, — said **Sergey Batenko, the center's director**. — Discipline is strict during disposal, as even the slightest deviation from the technological process can have serious consequences. All particularly hazardous operations are mechanized to eliminate the human factor and casualties in case of emergencies. Each workstation is equipped with a modern fire suppression system, including aerosol chemical sprayers that prevent combustion. Fortunately, in the quarter-century since its establishment, there have been no serious incidents.

The equipment for the plant was manufactured at one of the leading enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex, the Krasnoarmeysky Research Institute of Mechanization, where personnel were also trained. Its activities are regulated by a State Targeted Program designed until 2020. According to it, aviation munitions that have been stored for 40-50 years and are no longer capable of fully performing their function are being disposed of in the Gorodok region. Due to chemical processes occurring inside, they are particularly dangerous to handle and must be disposed of. In some countries, military heritage is simply destroyed (blown up at training grounds), but Belarus has chosen a different path, one that is more environmentally friendly and beneficial for the economy. Firstly, tons of scrap metal are returned to circulation: annually, the disposal center receives about 500 tons of ferrous metal and 300 tons of non-ferrous metal. Secondly, by possessing the technology for preserving explosives, industrial explosives can be produced.

— Since 2012, we have been producing "Algetol-35," obtained from the disposal of mixed munitions filled with aluminum powder, hexogen, and TNT. Its power is one and a half times greater than that of pure TNT, and its efficiency is much higher than that of the Russian analogue "Granutol," — clarifies Sergey Vasilyevich. — In 2015, we started producing Granipor, made from gunpowder. Our explosives are used by OJSC "Dolomit" in quarry development, and thanks to their increased power, they significantly reduce the output of oversized, large pieces of rock unsuitable for crushing equipment.

The search for new methods and technologies in our work allows the plant to increase production volumes, expand the range of munitions being disposed of, increase the number of employees, and guarantee them a decent salary — about 7 million rubles.

Oleg Shvedov. Photos by Dmitry Osipov, "Vitebskiye Vesti."